Vehicles From the 2000s: History's Best Sellers

Make way for the hits of 2000s! This remarkable era stood as a testament to the turn-of-the-millennium pop explosion and the march of first-rate vehicles. Crowd-pleasers such as Perodua Myvi shared the spotlight with mega-bestsellers BYD F3 and Dacia Sandero. Brought to you by top-notch makers from industry leaders like Perodua and BYD, these trailblazing products dominated airwaves and playground buzz alike and earned a permanent place in cultural lore. Check out the complete rank-ordered ledger below to relive the finest releases of the year.

1. Perodua Myvi

   Released in 2005 by Perodua

   On May 25, 2005, the Malaysian automotive landscape was forever changed with the launch of the Perodua Myvi. This date marked the arrival of a vehicle that would soon become a national icon and the country's best-selling car for over a decade. The Myvi was the result of a strategic collaboration between Perodua, Toyota, and Daihatsu, aimed at delivering a world-class compact car tailored for Malaysian consumers. Its debut was met with immense public anticipation, as it promised a combination of Japanese engineering, reliability, and local market understanding at an accessible price point, setting a new benchmark in the B-segment category.

2. BYD F3

   Released in 2005 by BYD

   On September 22, 2005, a vehicle that would fundamentally alter the Chinese automotive landscape officially went on sale: the BYD F3. This date marks the commercial launch of a compact sedan that embodied BYD Auto's ambitious transition from a battery manufacturer to a full-fledged carmaker. For the rapidly growing Chinese market, the F3's arrival was a watershed moment. It introduced a new paradigm of value, challenging established foreign joint-venture brands with an aggressively low price point, a familiar design, and a comprehensive list of standard features. This launch was the starting pistol for a sales phenomenon that would cement BYD's place as a major domestic player and fund its future electric ambitions.

3. Dacia Sandero

   Released in 2007 by Dacia

   On December 1, 2007, the world was introduced to a new nameplate that would redefine the budget car segment, but not under its now-famous European badge. The first-generation Sandero made its global debut in Brazil, branded as a Renault. This launch was a pivotal moment for the Renault Group's global strategy, representing the first Renault model to be launched outside of Europe. Developed from the Dacia Logan platform, its premiere at the Ayrton Senna plant in Curitiba showcased a vehicle tailor-made for emerging markets. This specific date marks the beginning of a success story built on providing robust, spacious, and affordable transportation to millions, a formula that would later conquer Europe under the Dacia brand.